~ Space Weather Update~ SOLAR WIND STORM~ Windspeed 642, Almost 900 Yesterday [1]
SOLAR WIND STORM: Solar wind is blowing around Earth faster than 600 km/s (1.3 million mph) as our planet moves through the wake of a CME that struck on May 24th. This is causing geomagnetic unrest around the poles. Aurora sightings [2] have been few, however, because of the competing glare of the full Moon. Aurora alerts: text [3], voice [4].
SUNSET PLANET SHOW: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. Venus, Jupiter and Mercury have converged to form a bright triangle in the sunset sky. Richard Sears sends this picture from Atwater, California:
[5]
"I took the picture on May 25th," says Sears. "What a way to end the day!"
Tonight will be even better. On Sunday, May 26th, the planets fit within a tightening circle less than 3o wide. There won't be another triple conjunction like this until October 2015, so don't miss it! NASA: video [6], full story [7].
Solar wind
speed: 642.7 km/sec
density: 1.4 protons/cm3
explanation [8] | more data [9]
Updated: Today at 1506 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C3 0958 UT May26
24-hr: C3 0958 UT May26
explanation [10] | more data [11]
Updated: Today at: 1500 UT
Daily Sun: 26 May 13
[12]
Sunspot AR1756 has a 'beta-gamma' magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class [13] solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 107
What is the sunspot number? [14]
Updated 26 May 2013
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Since 2004: 821 days
Typical Solar Min: 486 days
Update 26 May 2013
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 121 sfu
explanation [15] | more data [16]
Updated 26 May 2013
Current Auroral Oval:
[17]
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 5 storm
explanation [18] | more data [19]
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 4.7 nT
Bz: 3.1 nT south
explanation [20] | more data [21]
Updated: Today at 1507 UT
Coronal Holes: 26 May 13
[22]
Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole could brush past Earth's magnetic field on May 27-28. Credit: SDO/AIA.